Moving to Atlanta

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HGUNHNTR

HGUNHNTR

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Hi all, I'm moving to Atlanta this summer, anything I need to know about local gun laws? Good places to shoot/hunt I have never been to the Southern US or Georgia---I feel a bit overwhelmed.

Thanks All, I appreciate any responses.
 
Stay out of Clayton county I guess. Another thread on here about that place. I guy having neighbor problems and is worried about it coming to shots fired.
 
I would suggest that you look to live in one of the outlying areas.

Atlanta, like other poster related is an armpit. (or worse!).

Many of the suburbs are much nicer.

You can elect to commute, and things get even better the further you get from Atlanta.

But, this is why the traffic is so bad. Every one who works there is in hurry to get there in the mornings. Then after 3pm, everyone is trying like heck to get out............

And, if you haven't been told, IT'S HOT HERE! Today it's 97 in the shade and humidity is "low" at about 80%.

But, it'll get better about mid September........
 
Thanks for the replies so far, as far as living in an armpit, I lived in NJ for 5 years and it doesn't get much more armpit than that:) The gun laws in NJ are reprehensible at best.
 
What part of "Atlanta" Are you moving to the metro-Atlanta area or to the city of Atlanta? I personally hate the city of Atlanta and cringe any time I have to drive downtown for any reason.

IMHO, Clayton and Dekalb Counties are the armpits of the metro area. Don't get me wrong, each of those two counties has some nice areas to live but their crime rates and school systems are atrocious.

Once again, IMHO Cobb and Cherokee are the more desirable counties on the North side of town. We have a lake house in Cherokee county and I love the Canton, Holly Springs area. On the South-Side you have Fayette and Henry counties bracketing Clayton County. These counties are also nice and get nicer the further you get away from the Clayton County border. Both Henry and Fayette have great schools and relatively low crime rates. Unfortunately, Fayette's largest shopping center megaplex is on the border of Fayetteville (Fayette County) and Riverdale (armpit of Clayton County). We refer to that area as Fayette-dale. Many of my police friends work in Fayette and spend a great deal of time protecting that shopping center.
 
IMO, it's kind of stupid to form an opinion on an entire county based on one set of neighbors.

On the other hand, I despise ATL and everywhere within 30 miles. Traffic is a nightmare and there are just way too many people. But, I'd take ATL over NJ any day of the week!
 
30 miles is just about right. Almost anywhere outside of the 30 mile radius is very nice, N,S,E,W. But then there's the traffic. I hope you don't have to work near the city. I pretty much work all around the metro area and try my best to avoid commuter hell with my schedule. 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 3:30 to 6:30 sucks bad.
 
Unfortunately, Fayette and Henry are five to ten years in becoming what Clayton is today. Both used to be nice, but have rapidly gone downhill. I don't mean to offend anyone, but unless you're from Clayton, Dekalb, or Atlanta, you have no idea as to how bad it really is there. You may think that all the horrendous comments are an exaggeration, but believe me they're not. I've been shot at by gang members for standing in the wrong place apparently. I've been shot at by someone from their apartment window for no reason. I was simply standing there and he opened his window and opened fire. And this is while I was in uniform. I could go on for days, but trust me, it truly is the armpit of the south.

With that said, like Frank said, Canton, Cumming, Dawsonville, Holly Springs, just to name a few, are a totally different world. North of Fulton, at least for now, is night and day compared to Atlanta. I have friends who have a very expensive house in downtown Atlanta, near the Carter Center. They can look out their windows every night and see hookers and addicts passed out on the sidewalks, and this is the revitalized area! Not where I would raise a family.
 
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Every state has a cesspool. I've lived in St. Louis, Chicago, and Mpls. The only difference in Atlanta is it is indeed the deep south and people are a lot nicer here and the cost of living considerably less. Now since your OP was regarding gun laws and THIS IS A GUN FORUM........ Georgia gun laws are among the the best in the U.S. check out georgiapacking.org for all the info you need, and the hunting is great! check out the georgia DNR:) for any and all hunting and fishing info. There are lots of gun shops and indoor and outdoor ranges including a lot in the state parks. I've lived here for 34 years and will not leave. Atlanta sucks in many ways but so does Macon, Columbus Savannah, and Valdosta in the areas where the garbage is dumped. Welcome to the south! We had some real good friends on our street from NJ before they were transferred to Chicago. The only thing they missed about NJ was the beach. The beach is 4 hours from Atlanta that's not too bad.
 
I live on the west side of Atlanta, its much better than living in Atlanta. Nicer smaller towns, less crime, pastures, woods, cows, farms, that sort of thing. Places to check on the west side-Paulding, Douglas, Polk, Carroll counties. I would also second the northern counties-Cherokee and such up that way. Scenery is same as above.
 
NE of Atlanta is where you want to go. Areas like Roswell, Alpharetta, and up GA 400 towards Lake Lanier. However, if you move to that area and have to travel downtown to work, be ready for traffic out the ying yang. You might also consider areas near Kennesaw, but once again traffic heading into the city in the morning is a PITA.
 
Welcome to GA, HGUNHNTR. Too bad you need to live close to ATL.

The replies here are all good advice. Go north or west.

Just like everywhere else in America, our GA cities have the problem of urban savages making life unsafe.
 
Thanks everyone, I do have to go downtown everyday so I am prepared for traffic. I appreciate everyones input.
 
I lived in NJ for 5 years and it doesn't get much more armpit than that
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Wait till you move to make that assumption. Gun laws are more lax, but that doesn't mean the police know what the law is. And won't harass you even when you are in the right.

IMHO Cobb and Cherokee are the more desirable counties on the North side of town
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More desirable, yes. But I consider Cobb nothing more than DeKalb on the west side of town. It's not as (widespead) bad, but in places it's just as bad. Cherokee is one of the better counties. I'm more familiar with the east side of town. Gwinnet and Rockdale are not bad, very similar to Cobb. Cobb and Gwinnett have premier school systems. IIRC, Gwinnett graduated something like 10,000 last year. There is a reason why so many people are (last 20 years) moving there. (That's why I had to get out of there. Too crowded.) For a higher quality of life, look at Walton and Newton counties on the east side. Walton is the better of the two, but Newton is cheaper (home prices and property taxes). The east side typically has the lightest traffic on average days. But when it's bad, it's real bad. Last week it took me close to 3 hours to get home from work. ~75 miles and typically 1 hr 15 min ride.

Almost anywhere outside of the 30 mile radius is very nice, N,S,E,W.
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Make it 45-50 and I'd agree with that statement. I live 30 miles outside of the perimeter, and 15 miles off the interstate. Never had a problem with anybody around here, true Southern Hospitality is still alive in the country. And I have a 50 yard range set up off my back porch. Also have a chicken pen with fresh eggs daily.

If traffic is a large concern to you, stay away from I75, I85 and GA 400 all north of Atlanta. Typically the worst traffic in Atlanta. I20 west of Atlanta gets bad on clear days in the late spring- early fall months (known as the "Sunshine Slowdown"). I20 and US 78 east of Atlanta are typically some of the better commutes. (My biggest problem is going thru DeKalb, the locals can't figure out how to merge onto and off of the highway.) I85, I75, and I675 south of Atlanta I'm not as familiar with. That's because you don't always hear traffic reports from down there. (May be because it's lighter than elsewhere, IDK.)

There are nice areas in the city, but space is extremely tight (you may not mind that, I got to have my room) and prices are substantial. And you still have to deal with the local government, and the liberals run rampant (again that may not bother you).

Wyman
 
As large cities go, Atlanta is not too bad except for the traffic. I kind of sphinter-up when I go when I have to deal with 5 or 6 lanes of traffic moving at 80mph in each direction. But you get used to it.

I assume you are planning on living outside the loop if you are buying. Cost of living is medium. Most people are living north of town based on the traffic jams in the morning. I would plan on working early if business hours are flexible.

GA has a lot going for it when it comes to scenery. I especially like th northern one-third.
 
adventure outdoors is a decent gun store it is up Cobb Blvd

there is an indoor range 2 miles away
 
Georgia gun laws are among the the best in the U.S. check out georgiapacking.org for all the info you need
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Not really. Our "ccw" program is very weak. There are numerous places you cant carry, including churches, sporting events, and any "public gathering".

Do you know what a "public gathering" is? If you do, please let our Attorney General know, because the term is undefined by Georgia law, and open for wide interpretation. A few years ago, one police department attempted to charge a permit holder with illegally carrying a firearm in Wal Mart. They felt like Wal Mart was a public gathering. While the permit holder was acquitted, there was nonetheless a legal case, and he had to hire lawyers to defend him.

Also, Georgia is dominated by politics in Atlanta, and Atlanta is essentially no longer a southern city. Between transplanted yankees and liberal politicians, it really has little in common with the rest of the state.

Most of the crime in Atlanta is however related to drugs, and mostly involves blacks and hispanics. If you stay in the suburbs, you will generally be OK.

GA has a lot going for it when it comes to scenery.
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There is not much to look at except in the NE corner in the Appalachians. The rest of the state is pine trees, flat land, farm land, and swamp.
 
You heard about the old man sitting on his front porch? A guy comes by and says "I just moved to town -- am I going to like it here?"

THe old man asks "How did you like it where you came from?" The guy says "it was terrible, people were mean, traffic was bad, schools were terrible..." The old man says "well, I'm afraid you'll find the same things here."

Later, the old man sees another stranger, who says "I'm moving to town, what's it like around here?" Again he asks "How did you like it where you came from?" The stranger says "we loved it, people were nice, schools were good, we found a great shooting club..." The old man says "I think you're going to love it here."

Welcome to Atlanta! I hope you'll love it.
 
There is not much to look at except in the NE corner in the Appalachians. The rest of the state is pine trees, flat land, farm land, and swamp.
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I used to feel that way. GA has some interesting history and geography.

The mining areas of old are particularly interesting to me.
GA has some great low technical rivers for kayaking and family fun.
GA has some great people. Yes, Yankees in Atlanta.
GA has interesting civil war history beyond Sherman's march to the sea.
GA even has trout fishing.
GA has hunting opportunites.
GA is gun friendly.
Even the swamps are interesting. Watch out for water mocassins.
Warm water fishing opportunities abound.
Best part is that Tennessee is just north!
 
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